[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title meta=”off” featured_placement=”background” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ title_font=”||||||||” title_text_color=”#ff6317″ title_font_size=”3.5em” meta_font=”|300|||||||” meta_text_color=”#ffffff” meta_font_size=”1em” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(248,248,248,0.85)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(248,248,248,0.75)” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” min_height=”20vh” height=”400px” custom_padding=”6vh||6vh||false|false” global_module=”403″ locked=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”intro” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_padding=”|||0px||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”6vh||||false|false” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1.1em” text_line_height=”1.6em” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”1.5em” header_2_line_height=”0.9em” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
We ended 2020 with two reviews (re. Business<\/a> and Tech<\/a>), so it is quite natural to start 2021 with technology and business predictions. Yes, it is challenging to predict anything in nowadays\u2019 volatile environment, but let\u2019s give it a try \u2013 if nothing else, we challenge our own understanding of current tech and business trends.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”6vh||||false|false” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1.1em” text_line_height=”1.6em” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”1.5em” header_2_line_height=”0.9em” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n For anyone looking to turn a switch and change everything 2020 into a fresh 2021, that didn\u2019t quite work out. At least at Slack, someone literally did *not* turn the switch on, so their users\u2019 first day of work into 2021 was actually a day off. Sure, the outage was minor and it only lasted three hours, but it prompted a series of great memes.<\/p>\n So, if we were to play into the Microsoft analogy, we\u2019d say that Slack went a looong way from their cocky Dear Microsoft, welcome to the revolution<\/em> message in 2016<\/a>, to filing a competition complaint<\/a> against Microsoft, to being acquired by Salesforce<\/a> (at 10% of MS Teams\u2019 size).<\/p>\n The first prediction for 2021? Having a great product will still be not enough. It is either the push on sales\/distribution, or consolidation within bigger players that will keep small- and medium-size companies afloat.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_image src=”\/\/cdn.berg-software.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Berg-Software-2021-Business-and-tech-predictions-Slack-down-on-January-4.png” alt=”Berg Software – 2021 Business and tech predictions – Slack down on January 4″ title_text=”Berg Software – 2021 Business and tech predictions – Slack down on January 4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ custom_padding=”4vh|||2vw|false|false”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”intro” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_padding=”|||0px||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”6vh||||false|false” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1.1em” text_line_height=”1.6em” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”1.5em” header_2_line_height=”0.9em” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n According to BDO\u2019s Technology CFO Outlook Survey<\/a> published on January 11, \u201cthe tech industry is poised for growth in 2021<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n The surveyed CFOs are mostly optimistic. Some 2\/3 of them see an economic recovery, which leads to:<\/p>\n This optimism should transform into more investments for IT:<\/p>\n Across the board, everyone mentions the pandemics as one of the main reasons for accelerated investments; also, the reason why remote work is here to stay:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_image src=”\/\/cdn.berg-software.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Berg-Software-2021-Business-and-tech-predictions-Business-outlook.png” alt=”Berg Software – 2021 Business and tech predictions – Business outlook” title_text=”Berg Software – 2021 Business and tech predictions – Business outlook” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ custom_padding=”4vh|||2vw|false|false”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”6vh||||false|false” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1.1em” text_line_height=”1.6em” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”1.5em” header_2_line_height=”0.9em” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Since remote work is here to stay, it will probably have an impact on individuals\u2019 spending patterns:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”6vh||||false|false” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1.1em” text_line_height=”1.6em” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”1.5em” header_2_line_height=”0.9em” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Some of the biggest developments of 2020, to produce bigger effects into 2021, are:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”6vh||||false|false” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”1.1em” text_line_height=”1.6em” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”1.5em” header_2_line_height=”0.9em” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Two huge developments happened end-2020 \/ start-2021:<\/p>\n First, the big four (Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google) face stronger antitrust scrutiny. In the US, it\u2019s been \u201ctestify in front of Congress\u201d time; while the EU is about to approve the more restrictive Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act. What does it mean for the Big Tech? At a minimum, they can be classified as \u201cgatekeepers\u201d, i.e. subject to stricter antitrust rules and higher fines for breaking them. But then, there are voices asking for the \u201cnuclear option\u201d of breaking Big Tech into smaller companies. This is supposed to reset the rules, inject money into the ecosystem and stimulate competition. Regardless, while opinions seem to differ on which company is the bigger sinner, Google\u2019s first lawsuits<\/a> already started mid-December. What does this mean for the rest of the market? In some fields, we see increased competition (e.g. Shopify empowering small entrepreneurs to get off Amazon, rumors of competing search engines etc.), so brace for impact this year.<\/p>\nSlack<\/em> down (and out)<\/h2>\n
Business growth opportunities in 2021<\/h2>\n
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The effects of remote work<\/h2>\n
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Talking of hardware\u2026<\/h2>\n
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The Big Tech<\/h2>\n